Holding mechanism for spring-actuated shades



(No Model.)

H. H. P0RSYTH,S1-. & H. H. FORSYTH, Jr. HOLDING MECHANISM FOR SPRING AGTUATED SHADES.

No. 544,297. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

HENRY H. FORSYTH, sR., AND- PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. FORSYTH, JR., OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

HOLDING MECHANISM FOR SPRlNG-ACTUA TED-SHADES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,297, dated August 13, 1895.

Application filed October 1'7, 1894. Serial No. 526,147. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY H. FORSYTH, Sin, and HENRY H. FORSYTH, Jr., of Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holding Mechanisms for Spring-Actuated Shades, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of holding mechanisms which are employed for frictionally holding springactuated windowshades in any desired position, and the inven tion is particularly applicable for use with that class of spring-actuated shades which are employed on windows having sashlifts secured to and projecting outwardly from the lower sash-bar.

In the construction of sleeping-cars a comparatively narrow window-stop is used in all cases, and where mirrors are used insteadof mullions between the double windows of sleeping-cars the stop is further narrowed by the window-casing, which in most cases embraces the front edge or corner of the stop. As a consequence of this construction the space in which the projecting portions of the friction locking-rods work is very contracted, and the groove in most cases is of necessity so close to the groove or way in which the sash slides that when the projecting end of the rod is in the groove the body of the rod or the tube which contains it and which is carried in a pocket in the lower edge of the curtain is so close to the window as to prevent the adjustment of the curtain, and also to prevent its passing over the sash-lift. It is also desired sometimes to lower the curtain when the window is raised, and this has been impossible with previous constructions. To remedy these defects we propose to construct a shade-holding mechanism in such manner that the projecting ends of the friction locking-rods may ride in the groove, no matter how close the groove is to the sashway nor how contracted the space, while the body of said rods and the tube which carries them is held out from the sash during the adjusting movements sufficiently to permit them to clear the sash and also the projecting sashlift.

In carrying out this invention We preferably offset or crank the friction locking-rods near their outer ends, although in a modified construction we propose to offset or bend the tube carrying such rods, (preferably near its middle,) whereby to carry the lower margin of the curtain out from the face of thesash sufficently to clear the sash-lift and to prevent the curtain from binding at any place during its adjustment. In each of such constructions, however, the body of the rods or that portion inclosed by the curtainare eccentric to the bearing ends, and hence-the lower margin of the curtain and the tube and rods car ried thereby may rock axially about such bearing ends when the curtain is released, thus carrying the lower margin of the curtain into close contact with the window after it has been brought to the desired position.

Our invention also relates to certain features of construction which will be hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents asectional plan view through a window-frame, the sash thereof, and the shade, and showing one form of our holding device in plan. Fig. 2is a broken plan View, partly in longitudinal section, showing aconstruction wherein short spring-actuated rods are provided with crank portions, to which swiveling friction tip-holdders are applied. Figs. 2, 2 and 2 showin detail a locking-catch for the friction-rods and the manner of applyingit to the window-stop. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing two forms of locking-rod and tip and showing also in section a portion of the sash and stop and mirror and mirror-casing. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the lower sash-bar, the curtain, and tube carrying the friction locking-rods, the sash-lift and one of the pendants of the locking-rod showing in elevation. Fig. 5 is a similar view, but showing the groove for the actuating-rod farther removed from the sash. Fig. 6 is a broken plan view of the central portion of the tube which carries the locking-rods and showing a cylindrical block affixed therein. Fig. 7 is a cross section through the lower margin of the curtain and a stiifening-wire inclosed thereby, the tube, block, and esoutcheon, and showing a binding-screw for the escutcheon and one of the hand-pieces or pendants. Fig. 7 is abroken elevation of the lower margin of the curtain with its fringe and showing by dotted lines the position of the stiffening-wire to hold the curtain straight.

In the drawings, 8 represents the lower sashbar of a window,to which is usually applied a projecting sash-lift 9.

10 represents the post which constitutes the frame of the window, and to the face of this post the window stops or strips 11 12 are usually applied, forming a way between them wherein the sash slides. The post 10 is, ordinarily, narrow, and the stop 12 is usually also very narrow. In this stop a groove 13 is formed, in which the friction-tips or bearing ends of the rods work. In most cases a plateglass mirror, of which a fragment is shown at 14, Fig. 3, occupies the space between the double windows, and the usual trim or casing is shown in section at 15, this casing being recessed on its rear side so as to embrace the outer corner of the stop 12 and projecting from the face thereof so as to leave a very narrow space in which the projected ends of the holdingrod must work. Now, it is obvious that unless special provision be made for carrying the lower margin of the shade away from the face of the sash it will bind thereon and will not pass the sashlift. Ease of adjustment is essential to the practical use of these devices because they are operated by all classes of travelers, and it is desirable to have the construction such that the shade may be lowered so as to completely cover the window, thus excluding the light, and to this end it is desirable that when the shade is free it shall rest closely against the face of the sash. In some cases, also, the curtain is lowered while the window is raised. This necessitates a construction whereby the holding mechanism can pass the sash-lift.

16 represents a tube which is preferably used and which is arranged in a pocket formed by doubling the shade material at its lower margin, and within which tube the locking-rods are slidably mounted. The tube which we employ is preferably of gas-pipe and of peculiar construction, being cut away at its middle portion, as seen at 16, Fig. 6, and circumferentially expanded, as at 16 to admit a cylindrical. block 17, which is secured in place by compression of the tube over its edges, and this block has a screw-threaded aperture to receive a bindingscrew and affording a stop for a slidable locking-rod, as hereinafter described. This tube will ordinarily be of a length corresponding to the width of the curtain, and it is preferably reamed out on its interior so as to provide a seat or abutment 18 for the outwardly-forcing springs 19 mounted within the tube.

\Vithin the bore of the tube, in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3, are mounted sliding-rods 20, whose inner ends are provided with pendants or hand-pieces, 21 projecting through the slotted aperture 16 of the tube, and furnishing means whereby the rods may be withdrawn against the thrust of the springs by forcing the pendants toward each other.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the tube 16 is bent at its middle portion so as to clear the lift 9, while in the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the tube is straight, but the rods have cranked portions which are eccentric to the body of the tube. The portions of these rods which bear in the grooves and which constitute the friction devices may be variously constructed.

As shown in Fig. 2, the sliding'rods are short and are in form double cranks, one member 22 of which is sleeved over the end of fixed rod 20 so as to slide thereon, while the other member of the crank is bored to receive a shank 23 of a tip-holder 21, the tip being represented at 25. In this construction the springs 19 hear at their outer ends against the inner ends of crank members 22, normally tending to thrust the tip into engagement with the bottom of the groove or slot 13. This tip-holder has a fiat forward end or head provided with a vertical slot, and the tip is conveniently held therein by compressing the jaws forming the groove. The tip-holder is thus swiveled in the crank member. The tip is preferably made of leather.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, where two spring-actuated locking-rods are employed, said rods slide in the tube and they are prevented from turning therein by the pin 26, working in the slot 27 of the tube.

At the left of Fig. 3 the rod 20 is shown as having a crank portion integrally formed therewith and carrying a tip 25, which does not enter the groove 13 but works upon the edges of the stop adjacent to such groove. At the right of said figure the same construction of crank member and tip-holder is shown as in the preceding figure. As shown in Fig. 1, the same form of tip is employed as is shown at the left of Fig. 3.

In the several constructions thetip carried by the extended ends of the rods affords a pivotal point around which the body of the tube rocks axially, so that when the curtain is freed from the hand of the operator the spring-actuated shade-roller, to which the upper end of the curtain is connected, willdraw up on the curtain and pull or rock the body of the tube and the lower margin of the curtain into close contact with the face of the sash. provision is made whereby the curtain may be pulled down so that its lower margin will pass the sash-lift, as indicated in Fig. 5.

The curtain, which is marked 28, must of course be cut away over the slotted aperture 16 in the tube 16, and to cover the cut edges of the opening thus formed in the curtain we employ an escutcheon or cover plate 20,which is shown in section in Fig. 7 and which is secured by means of the binding-screw 30, which is screwed into the block 17. This escutcheon has an outwardly-turned lip 31, which projects between the pendants 21 and the fringe Further, in the several constructions.

28*, serving as a guard to prevent the fingers from becoming entangled with the fringe. It will be observed that the upper edge of the escutcheon is curved on a less radius than its body or middle portion, whereby the cut edge at the upper margin of the opening in the curtain is securely clamped and prevented from withdrawing from beneath the es cutcheon.

It is sometimes desirable to lock the shade in'its adjusted, position, and in order to provide a convenient means for doing this we employ a fixed locking-catch, which is shown in detail in Figs. 2 2 and 2. The stop is bored transversely to the groove 13, and a metallic locking-block having, preferably, a cylindrical body 32, is fitted to this aperture. This cylindrical block has a locking-shoulder or offset 33 on its face, which projects into the path of the tip, as seen in Figs. 2 and 2 and when the shade is drawn down the tip will ride down the inclined face of this looking-projection and catch beneath its lower squared end.

In the use of this device it is found that the tube does not of itself prevent the lower margin of the shade from wrinkling or puckering, and we therefore employ a stiffening-wire 34, which is enveloped in a fold of the shade material, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. '7 and as shown in section in Fig. 7. This stiffening-wire is of less length than the width of the shade, and its ends may thus be confined in the pocket formed to receive it.

These details of construction all tend to the betterment of the mechanism, which must as a completed article be free from fault or objection of any kind to enable its practical use upon railway-trains. The improvements above described have enabled us to comply with the requirements of sleeping-car owners, where older constructions have been rejected.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the details of construction are and may be considerably varied, and of the several forms we prefer to employ that construction of tube, block, and escutcheon shown in Figs. 6 and 7. We prefer to employ two actuating-rods, as shown in Fig. 3, and we also prefer the construction of tip-holding extension or crankmember shown at the right of said figure.

It may be found expedient to employ only one sliding actuating-rod, using at the opposite end a dummy or guide, the construction of which is well understood. The pendants may be dispensed with and the shade may be operated by pushing or pulling upon its lower margin, thus moving it against the thrust of the springs and overcoming the friction which, in the absence of external force, is sufficient to hold the shade in the desired position. It may also be found practicable to dispense with the tube and to mount the actuating rod or rods in a pocket formed in the shade materialitself. Frequently the shade has a binding of leather and the pocket for the slidingrod may be formed in this binding. Further it will be understood that the Word tube, as employed in the foregoing specification, is intended to designate any shade-stick having a longitudinal bore forming a bearing for the sliding-rod, and it is obvious that its form may be greatly varied.

Obviously, the principle of our invention may be embodied in a fixture having a different frictional lockingdevice'as, for example, curtain fixtures are upon the marketin which, instead of employing sliding locking-rods, the shade-stick is a hollow tube, and cords secured to the window are carried through the body of the tube and the shade is held in the adjusted position by the friction between the end of the tube and the cord.

Our invention in its broader scope is adapted for use in connection with a frictional holding device of this character, the tube in this case having its ends offset or bent so that the bearing ends are eccentric to the body. In other words, the principle of our invention is embodied in any shade-holding mechanism wherein the bearing ends are offset or eccentric to the plane of the body so as to carry the curtain out and permit it to clear an obstruc tion, and which will also adapt it to rock into close engagement with the window when released.

IVe clain1- 1. In aholding mechanism for spring actuated shades a spring actuated rod slidably mounted in the shade and having a bearing end projected beyond the side margin thereof, the rod having a portion ofiset or eccentric to a plane passing through the bearing end, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a friction holding mechanism for spring actuated shades, a rod carried by the shade and having a bearing end normally held in frictional contact with a fixed part of the window and its body ofiset or eccentric to its bearing end whereby the position of the lower margin of the shade with reference to the window may be varied and the body of the rod may rock axially to the bearing end, substantially as described.

3. In a holding mechanism for springactuated shades, a spring actuated rod slidably mounted in the shade and having a bearing end projected beyond the side margin thereof, the projected end being offset from the body of the rod, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a holding mechanism for spring actuated shades, the combination with a spring actuated rod slidably mounted in the lower margin of the shade and having one end projected beyond the side margin thereof, the projected end being offset from or eccentric to its body, and means for withdrawing the rod against the action of the spring, substantially as described.

5. In a holding mechanism for spring actuated shades, the combination with a tube to be carried by the shade, of a spring actuated rod slidably mounted within the tube and having a bearing end projected beyond the tube, the body of the tube being eccentric to the bearing end whereby it may rock about said bearing end as an axis, substantially as described.

6. In a holding mechanism for spring actuated shades, the combination with a tube to be carried by the shade, of a spring actuated rod slidably mounted within the tube and having a projected portion eccentric to the body of the tube and a swiveling tip holder mounted in said projected portion, substantially as described.

7. In a holding mechanism for spring actuated shades, spring actuated rods slidably mounted in the shade and having bearing ends projecting beyond the margins thereof, the rods each having a portion offset or eccentric to a plane passing through the bearing ends, groove stops in which the tips of the rods work, and locks in the path of the tips, substantially as described.

8. In a holding mechanism for spring actuated shades, the combination with a metal tube, a frictional holding rod slidably mounted therein and having an actuating spring, said tube having its walls slotted between its ends, a hand piece projecting through the slot of the tube and detachably connected with the rod, a fixed block embraced by the walls of the tube at the slot and affording a stop for the movable holding rod and an escutcheon detachably secured to the block, substantially as described.

9. In a holding mechanism for spring actuated shades, the combination with a tube having a slotted aperture to receive a hand piece and a cover plate detachably secured to the tube over the aperture thereof, said cover plate having its body laterally curved and its margin curved on a smaller radius than its body whereby to impinge the shade, substantiallyv as described.

10. In a holding mechanism for spring actuated shades, the combination with a tube having a slotted aperture to receive a hand piece, and a cover plate detachably secured to the tube over the aperture thereof, said cover plate having a depending lip, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In a friction holding mechanism for spring actuated shades, a rod carried by the shade and having a bearing end offset or eccentric to its body, whereby the position of the lower margin of the shade with reference to the Window may be varied and the body of the rod may rock axially to the bearing end, substantially as described.

HENRY H. FORSYTII, SR. HENRY H. FORSYTH, J R.

Witnesses:

N. M. BOND, FREDERICK C. GooDWIN. 

